Excellence Integrity & Experience

Casandra Talmadge

Founder & Principal Consultant

Casandra Talmadge is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Casandra Talmadge Consulting LLC, where she partners with organizations, educational institutions, nonprofits, and community groups to develop people, strengthen culture, and create meaningful pathways for growth.

With more than 20 years of experience, including a distinguished 21-year career with McDonald’s Corporation, Casandra brings expertise in corporate leadership, organizational effectiveness, learning and development, employee engagement, youth programming, and women’s leadership. Her work centers on helping individuals and organizations navigate change, build confidence, strengthen relationships, and create environments rooted in trust, accountability, inclusion, and belonging.

Her philosophy is simple: Culture should be felt, not just measured.

Beyond her corporate leadership experience, Casandra is deeply committed to youth development and bridging the gap between education and the world of work. Through mentorship, career panels, workshops, speaking engagements, and advisory roles, she has supported young people ages 12–24 in developing professional skills, exploring career opportunities, and recognizing their potential.

Her community engagement includes ACT-SO entrepreneurship mentoring, where students she mentored earned Gold-level recognition, advanced to the national competition, and won first place at Nationals. She has also contributed to youth and educational programming with organizations including the International Youth Foundation, Girls Inc. Chicago, After School Matters, My Block, My Hood, My City, 100 Black Men of Chicago, and Junior Achievement.

Casandra also designs learning and leadership experiences that empower women to lead authentically, communicate confidently, take ownership of their careers, and pursue meaningful professional growth. Across her work, she is known for her engaging presence, dynamic facilitation, and ability to turn meaningful conversations into purposeful action.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Technical Management with a concentration in Corporate Communications, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and an Associate Degree in Business Administration from DeVry University. She also holds a Diversity & Inclusion Certification from Cornell University. During her tenure at McDonald’s, she received the President’s Award, recognizing her among the top 1% of employees for significant business impact.